Shaun McCance
shaunm@gnome.org 2012
Michael Hill
mdhillca@gmail.com
Ekaterina Gerasimova
kittykat3756@gmail.com
Get around the desktop using the keyboard.
Daniel Șerbănescu
daniel [at] serbanescu [dot] dk 2016

# Useful keyboard shortcuts

This page provides an overview of keyboard shortcuts that can help you use your desktop and applications more efficiently. If you cannot use a mouse or pointing device at all, see for more information on navigating user interfaces with only the keyboard.

# Getting around the desktop

Alt F1 or the Super key | Switch between the Activities overview and desktop. In the overview, start typing to instantly search your applications, contacts, and documents.
Alt F2 | Pop up command window (for quickly running commands)
Super Tab | Quickly switch between windows. Hold down Shift for reverse order.
Super` | Switch between windows from the same application, or from the selected application after Super Tab. This shortcut uses ` on US keyboards, where the ` key is above Tab. On all other keyboards, the shortcut is Super plus the key above Tab.
Alt Esc | Switch between windows in the current workspace. Hold down Shift for reverse order.
Ctrl Alt Tab | Give keyboard focus to the top bar. In the Activities overview, switch keyboard focus between the top bar, dash, windows overview, applications list, and search field. Use the arrow keys to navigate.
Super A | Show the list of applications.
Super Page Up and Super Page Down | Switch between workspaces.
Shift Super Page Up and Shift Super Page Down | Move the current window to a different workspace.
Shift Super← | Move the current window one monitor to the left.
Shift Super→ | Move the current window one monitor to the right.
Ctrl Alt Delete | Log Out.
Super L | Lock the screen.
Super M or Super V | Open the message tray. Press Super M or Super V again or Esc to close.

# Common editing shortcuts

Ctrl A | Select all text or items in a list.
Ctrl X | Cut (remove) selected text or items and place it on the clipboard.
Ctrl C | Copy selected text or items to the clipboard.
Ctrl V | Paste the contents of the clipboard.
Ctrl Z | Undo the last action.

# Capturing from the screen

Prnt Scrn | Take a screenshot.
Alt Prnt Scrn | Take a screenshot of a window.
Shift Prnt Scrn | Take a screenshot of an area of the screen. The pointer changes to a crosshair. Click and drag to select an area.
Ctrl Alt Shift R | Start and end screencast recording.